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| Berlin 'terrorist attack': 12 killed in Christmas market crash – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.02am GMT | |
| 09:02 | |
| Merkel to give a statement | |
| German chancellor Angela Merkel is due to make a statement about the attack at 11am (10.00 GMT) according to reports. | |
| Chancellor #Merkel will give a statement at 11:00 today following the #TruckAttack in #Berlin. | |
| #Merkel sagt Wahlkreis-Besuch ab - Erklärung zu vermutlichem Anschlag am #Breitscheidplatz um 11 Uhr. https://t.co/3D7RQ8xR9i | |
| 8.54am GMT | |
| 08:54 | |
| Suspect believed to be Pakistani – German media | |
| Kate Connolly | |
| German media is reporting that the suspect, according to unnamed German authorities, entered the country via the so-called Balkan refugee route earlier this year. | |
| His exact identity is not known, and it is being reported that he has held several identities. Die Welt newspaper is reporting that he came from Pakistan. | |
| Police stormed the refugee centre housed in the hangar at the disused Tempelhof airport at 4am local time, as that is where the suspected attacker was reported to have been registered. | |
| 8.52am GMT | |
| 08:52 | |
| Stephan Mayer, home affairs spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, acknowledged there attacker could have been a refugee with an Islamist background. | |
| But speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said it was too early to draw conclusions about Merkel’s immigration policy. | |
| He said: “There are clear hints that there is a terrorist background of this horrible attack. There are rumours that the attacker was either was either Pakistani or Afghan and he made it as a refugee to Germany, either last year or this year, and he lived for a long period of time in Berlin in a refugee camp.” | |
| Mayer added: “It would be absolutely unfair now to draw any conclusions before all the facts lay on the table. We had a period of time especially in the autumn of 2015 in which there was an uncontrolled and unregistered influx to Germany of approximately 900,000 refugees and asylum seekers. This was a period of mis-control of not controlling our borders. But we amended very intensively our German federal law.” | |
| Asked how the attack would impact next year’s election in Germany, Mayer said: “Certainly we will have a very emotional debate about the refugee policy and this horrible attack means a new dimension of terrorism in Germany. German citizens are not used to such events. We will have very intensive and lively debates in the next weeks and months. But we should keep a cool head now. It is is too early to draw any conclusions from this case. No one knows if he worked for himself or part of a network. It is not clear if he had any colleagues.” | |
| Mayer added: “No one knows if he [the attacker] was registered in the right way and if he was an Islamist and it is not clear yet, but there are hints that he has an Islamist background, if his radicalisation proceeded in Germany or if he already came as an Islamist to Germany. That’s all not clear yet.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.00am GMT | |
| 8.43am GMT | |
| 08:43 | |
| James Walsh | |
| Have you been affected by the Berlin Christmas market attack? | |
| GuardianWitness is looking for accounts, photos and videos or news tips or you can contact us on WhatsApp on +447867825056. | |
| Please think about your security first when recording and sharing your content. We’ll use your accounts as part of our ongoing coverage. | |
| 8.25am GMT | 8.25am GMT |
| 08:25 | 08:25 |
| Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage is blowing his dog whistle again. He claimed “events like these will be the Merkel legacy”. | Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage is blowing his dog whistle again. He claimed “events like these will be the Merkel legacy”. |
| Terrible news from Berlin but no surprise. Events like these will be the Merkel legacy. | Terrible news from Berlin but no surprise. Events like these will be the Merkel legacy. |
| 8.16am GMT | 8.16am GMT |
| 08:16 | 08:16 |
| Matthew Weaver | Matthew Weaver |
| German government prosecutors have taken over responsibility for investigating the Breitschreidplatz attack. | German government prosecutors have taken over responsibility for investigating the Breitschreidplatz attack. |
| Der Generalbundesanwalt hat die Ermittlungen zum #Breitschreidplatz übernommen. Auch die weitere Pressearbeit wird nun von dort erfolgen. | Der Generalbundesanwalt hat die Ermittlungen zum #Breitschreidplatz übernommen. Auch die weitere Pressearbeit wird nun von dort erfolgen. |
| 7.53am GMT | 7.53am GMT |
| 07:53 | 07:53 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation. | There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation. |
| I’m now handing over the live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver in London, who’ll continue to update with the latest developments. | I’m now handing over the live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver in London, who’ll continue to update with the latest developments. |
| 7.46am GMT | 7.46am GMT |
| 07:46 | 07:46 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Thomas de Maizière, the interior minister, has ordered for flags to fly at half-mast across Germany today. The ruling applies to all official buildings. | Thomas de Maizière, the interior minister, has ordered for flags to fly at half-mast across Germany today. The ruling applies to all official buildings. |
| The boss of Germany’s police trade union, Oliver Malchow, has told Bavarian Broadcasting that it would never be possible to have “100% security” at the country’s 2,500 Christmas markets, which take place “at least twice a week” in every German town. | The boss of Germany’s police trade union, Oliver Malchow, has told Bavarian Broadcasting that it would never be possible to have “100% security” at the country’s 2,500 Christmas markets, which take place “at least twice a week” in every German town. |
| 7.39am GMT | 7.39am GMT |
| 07:39 | 07:39 |
| The UK Labour party’s shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, has expressed solidarity with those affected by the attack in Berlin: | The UK Labour party’s shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, has expressed solidarity with those affected by the attack in Berlin: |
| Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured in the horrific incident in Berlin, and with their families. We stand united in sorrow and solidarity with all the people of Germany, as well as with all those affected by today’s attacks in Switzerland and Turkey. | Our thoughts are with all those killed and injured in the horrific incident in Berlin, and with their families. We stand united in sorrow and solidarity with all the people of Germany, as well as with all those affected by today’s attacks in Switzerland and Turkey. |
| Christmas is above all a time for peace and togetherness, and if what we have seen in Berlin and elsewhere today are shown to be deliberate, terrorist attacks, let us remember that our peace and togetherness are exactly what these evil individuals are trying to destroy, and that we must never let them succeed in that aim. | Christmas is above all a time for peace and togetherness, and if what we have seen in Berlin and elsewhere today are shown to be deliberate, terrorist attacks, let us remember that our peace and togetherness are exactly what these evil individuals are trying to destroy, and that we must never let them succeed in that aim. |
| Let us prove instead that – by people of all nations, creeds and colours standing strong together – we can defeat all those who simply want to sow war, division and hate. | Let us prove instead that – by people of all nations, creeds and colours standing strong together – we can defeat all those who simply want to sow war, division and hate. |
| 7.33am GMT | 7.33am GMT |
| 07:33 | 07:33 |
| Kate Connolly | Kate Connolly |
| Die Welt has reported that at around 4am (5am GMT) police special commandos stormed a hangar at the disused Tempelhof airport in southern Berlin. | Die Welt has reported that at around 4am (5am GMT) police special commandos stormed a hangar at the disused Tempelhof airport in southern Berlin. |
| No further details are yet available. | No further details are yet available. |
| Part of the vast Tempelhof complex – one of the largest building complexes in the world, mainly of Nazi construction – is currently being used as a refugee centre. | Part of the vast Tempelhof complex – one of the largest building complexes in the world, mainly of Nazi construction – is currently being used as a refugee centre. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.55am GMT | at 7.55am GMT |
| 7.26am GMT | 7.26am GMT |
| 07:26 | 07:26 |
| It was only as dawn approached on Tuesday that Berlin police confirmed they were investigating the crash that has killed 12 people and wounded 48 as a “suspected terror attack”. In a series of tweets, officials said: | It was only as dawn approached on Tuesday that Berlin police confirmed they were investigating the crash that has killed 12 people and wounded 48 as a “suspected terror attack”. In a series of tweets, officials said: |
| Our investigators are working on the assumption that the truck was intentionally driven into the crowd at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz. | Our investigators are working on the assumption that the truck was intentionally driven into the crowd at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz. |
| All police measures concerning the suspected terror attack at Breitscheidplatz are being taken with great speed and the necessary care. | All police measures concerning the suspected terror attack at Breitscheidplatz are being taken with great speed and the necessary care. |
| Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, had earlier urged caution: | Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, had earlier urged caution: |
| I don’t want to use the word ‘attack’ yet at the moment, although a lot speaks for it. | I don’t want to use the word ‘attack’ yet at the moment, although a lot speaks for it. |
| There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation. | There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation. |
| 7.14am GMT | 7.14am GMT |
| 07:14 | 07:14 |
| The US state department issued a warning in November for American travellers in Europe, specifically advising caution during “the upcoming holiday season and associated events”, including markets: | The US state department issued a warning in November for American travellers in Europe, specifically advising caution during “the upcoming holiday season and associated events”, including markets: |
| The department of state alerts US citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. US citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets … | The department of state alerts US citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season. US citizens should exercise caution at holiday festivals, events, and outdoor markets … |
| US citizens should also be alert to the possibility that extremist sympathisers or self-radicalised extremists may conduct attacks during this period with little or no warning. Terrorists may employ a wide variety of tactics, using both conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. | US citizens should also be alert to the possibility that extremist sympathisers or self-radicalised extremists may conduct attacks during this period with little or no warning. Terrorists may employ a wide variety of tactics, using both conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. |
| 7.06am GMT | 7.06am GMT |
| 07:06 | 07:06 |
| Vigils will be held today for the 12 people killed in the attack on the Christmas market. | Vigils will be held today for the 12 people killed in the attack on the Christmas market. |
| From 11am (10am GMT), members of the public are invited to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, at the scene of the devastation, to sign a book of condolence. | From 11am (10am GMT), members of the public are invited to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, at the scene of the devastation, to sign a book of condolence. |
| Archbishop Heiner Koch will lead mass at the Catholic Cathedral of St Hedwig’s in Berlin at midday (11am GMT). | Archbishop Heiner Koch will lead mass at the Catholic Cathedral of St Hedwig’s in Berlin at midday (11am GMT). |
| And at 6pm a vigil will take place at the memorial church. | And at 6pm a vigil will take place at the memorial church. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.11am GMT | at 7.11am GMT |